In the course of the past few months I have talked about several different concepts related to leisure, recreation, and play. These topics have varied from research, theory, and applied concepts. To end this blog I will be talking about the diversity among those concepts and more and how they relate back to leisure.
Serious leisure verses specialization: Serious leisure is the idea that people do not have to start from a young age and be the best at that activity. For example a coach of a sport might not be able to play the sport at an advanced level but understands and is extremely knowledgeable of the rules, athletes physical conditions, specific drills to create skill sets. This kind of person wakes up thinking about the activity, incorporates the activity into daily routine, and life activities. Specialization is when someone is knowledgeable of the activity and is capable of participating in the activity to a certain degree and can teach it to others.
Flow is the theory that people reach the right amount of experience and challenge. Flow can only occur when they are equal parts to both skill and challenge. If there is more skill and not enough challenge the person is bored and if the skill is lower then the challenge then people experience anxiety. This is important for leisure professionals because without and equal ratio of skill and challenge participants can stop participating in the activity in that given moment and distract other participants or choose to not come again creating a loss in participation and potentially the program.
Personality is a key to understanding someones likes and dislikes. In recreation and leisure it is important to know the target population in which you wish to reach. Knowing that populations personality and what is most likely to attract them to the event is important. It is important to disquisition between personality and stereotypes when determining the population. For instance one person might say that females who play sports are masculine and are not interested in being girly by wearing make-up and dresses. This is a stereotype placed on a group that is not the same across the board. Personality is individual to the person but characteristics that are more dominate in small groups of people are a commonality between people who participate in certain activities. For example risk takers from different walks of life might like to skydive and swim with sharks. While people who like to be at home might like to cook or read a book.
Experience economy is when people formulate a place to not just serve the customers but to give them an additional memory. For example themed restaurants, parks, and games. Give participants and experience that will be memorable that they will tell others about and bring attention to place is a key factor in tourism and recreation. If the person does not attach a good experience to an activity or place they are less likely to come back or share their experience. Experience economy is about creating those memories. This can be as simple as a restaurant having a person who is open and welcoming talking to the tables about their days and the food instead. This is different from seeing a wait staff when you need something or the food is ready. This person takes the time to crack jokes, share stories, and sit with at the table.
Motivation has many different steps to the development of the theory. There is intrinsic and extrinsic motivation. Intrinsic is when someone does something for their own likes and interest. They are not being influence by others at all for the par-tact in an activity. Extrinsic is when something in influencing the participation in the activity. This can be a parent, friends, money, anything other then the activity itself. The theory's main discussion piece is whether or not once your activity has had a moment of extrinsic motivation whether or not it and truly be intrinsically only motivated. This idea has brought up much debate because people question if anyone can be intrinsically motivated later in life.
Purple recreation is a leisure activity that to this day is challenged as to whether or not it is leisure. Leisure is seen as a activity that is good for the person and good for the community. That fits into the socially acceptable views of the society. Purple recreation is the activities that people part take in that are not condoned or seen as appropriate to the mass society and some smaller societies. Examples of Purple recreation is: drinking, gambling, adult conduct activities, drugs, and anything that is not accepted in most social circles in society. The idea that leisure must be wholesome for everyone the main components of leisure but any form of purple recreation no matter the frequency or amount is not condoned.
What is leisure, play, and recreation? These concepts began to be researched as early as the Greek and Roman times and still today are not as clearly identified as other concepts. Originally it was thought that the only people who could participate in leisure are those who had free time after their basic needs of food, shelter, and protection were met in access, the elite few in higher social standings. In the beginning education was considered the highest form of leisure. These concepts of what is leisure and who can experience it have been debated for many centuries and they are still changing.
What do all of these concepts have to do with leisure and recreation? They are the foundation for understanding why people would and do participated in leisure activities. Many of these concepts require for the participant to have a memorable experience that is favorable to participate further. They require the person who is implementing programs and activities to look at the group not as a whole but as individuals and develop something that will fit all needs not just most or some. Leisure is the idea that when our basic needs are met and our perceived ability and freedom are equal to the challenge in front of us we will participate in the activities. When our leisure is accepted by the community we are more likely to do it more often and bring people to join.
